at home, on the inattention of men to the shortness of human life, the ftory of Cupidus, the voyage of life, on the fufficiency of life to all purposes if well employed, on repentance, on the neceffity of reviewing life, the vifit of Serotinus to the place of his nativity, on the neceffity of labour to excellence, on the fallaciousness of the hopes of youth, and on the profpects of futurity 3 The eastern tales, and fome of his allegories, have also great merit ; and the last number is a very masterly compofition.

30

31

His character of PROSPERO in the RAMBLER, we learn from Mrs. Piozzi, was intended for Garrick "; and it might, poffibly, be under the influence of some diffatisfaction from the behaviour of that

10 Numbers 7, 8, 17, 19, 24, 26, 27, 43, 49, 64, 68, 71, 73, 102, 108, 110, 155, 165, 169, 196, 203. * Anecdotes, p. 49. celebrated

celebrated actor, that he wrote the fevere character of the manners of the generality of the players, which is inferted in the life of Savage. He seems to have thought, that Garrick was more applauded than he deferved 32; and, perhaps, was of opinion, that the profeffion of a player was estimated too highly. But there is no appearance of any refentment against Garrick, in what is faid concerning him in the Lives of the Poets. He there fpeaks of him with refpect and tendernefs; and whatever animofities there might have occafionally been between them, they seem then to have been completely obliterated by the hand of death.

IN 1755, he published his DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, which was eight years after the publication of his PLAN. The earl of Chesterfield wifhed to

33 Vid. Bofwell, p. 31, 299.

have

have had this great work dedicated to him; but as his lordship, though fecretary of ftate at the time when the PLAN of the Dictionary was addreffed to him, had afforded the author no beneficial patronage, Johnson, with great spirit, and great propriety, refused the compliment"; and he

33 It is fuppofed to have been with a view to obtain

the compliment of a dedication from Johnson, that lord Chesterfield, a fhort time before the Dictionary was published, wrote two papers in the World in recommendation of it. Johnson fent him a letter upon that occafion, which has been much and deservedly admired. It was as follows:

To the Right Hon, the Earl of Chesterfield.

I have been lately informed, by the proprietor of ⚫ the World, that two papers, in which my Dictionary • is recommended to the public, were written by your lordship. To be fo diftinguished is an honour, which, being very little accustomed to favours from the great, I know not well how to receive, or in • what terms to acknowledge.

. When,

informed the public in his preface, that his work had been executed" with little "affiftance of the learned, and without 66 any

When, upon fome flight encouragement, I first 'visited your lordship, I was overpowered, like the

reft of mankind, by the enchantment of your addrefs; and could not forbear to wish that I might boast myself "Le vainqueur du vainqueur de la "terre;" that I might obtain that regard for which

I faw the world contending; but I found my attendance fo little encouraged, that neither pride < nor modesty would fuffer me to continue it. When

I had once addreffed your lordship in public, I had exhausted all the art of pleafing, which a re⚫ tired and uncourtly scholar can poffefs. I had done ⚫ all that I could; and no man is pleased to have his all neglected, be it ever so little.

Seven years, my lord, have now paft, fince I waited in your outward rooms, or was repulfed from your door; during which time I have been pushing on my work through difficulties, of which it is useless to complain, and have brought it, at laft, to the verge of publication, without one act VOL. III. Y

• of

"any patronage of the great." He feems, indeed, and not without reason, to have had a confiderable diflike to the usual modes of

of affiftance, one word of encouragement, or one • fmile of favour. Such treatment I did not expect, • for I never had a Patron before.

The Shepherd in Virgil grew at last acquainted with love, and found him a native of the rocks.

• Is not a Patron, my Lord, one who looks with unconcern on a man ftruggling for life in the water, and, when he has reached ground, encumbers him with help? The notice, which you have been pleased to take of my labours, had it been early, had been • kind; but it has been delayed till I am indifferent, * and cannot enjoy it; till I am solitary, and cannot

impart it; till I am known, and do not want it. • I hope it is no very cynical afperity, not to confess • obligations where no benefit has been received, or to be unwilling that the public fhould confider me

as owing that to a Patron, which Providence has • enabled me to do for myself.

Having carried on my work thus far with fo

⚫ little obligation to any favourer of learning, I fhall

• not